NIH issues health advisory on Congo virus ahead of Eid al-Adha

As Eid al-Adha gets closer, Pakistan’s National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued a health advisory warning people to take precautions against Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), a dangerous virus that can spread during animal slaughter.

Health departments across Pakistan, including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, have been instructed to adhere to the standard safety protocols. The NIH has also recommended that an outreach campaign be launched to educate individuals on how to protect themselves during Eid.

CCHF, a dangerous viral disease, has a case-fatality rate of 10% to 40%. The virus has been detected in Pakistan intermittently since 1976, and primarily in the Balochistan region, due largely in part to animal movement across the border.

The disease spreads through contact with blood or tissues of infected animals, especially during slaughter. It can also spread from person to person if someone touches infected blood or other body fluids.

In 2024, Pakistan reported 61 Congo virus cases. As many will be handling animals during the time of Eid, the NIH recommends handling animals with gloves, putting on protective clothes, and disinfecting surfaces afterward to prevent infection.

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